sPLA2 inhibitors

ABSTRACT

A class of novel indole is disclosed together with the use of such compounds for inhibiting sPLA 2  mediated release of fatty acids for treatment of Inflammatory Diseases such as septic shock.

This application is a division of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/069,824 filed Feb. 21, 2002 which is a national phase application corresponding to PCT International Application PCT/US00/20816, filed Sep. 7, 2000, corresponding to priority application 60/154,836, filed Sep. 20, 1999.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to novel indole compounds useful for Inflammatory Diseases.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The structure and physical properties of human non-pancreatic secretory phospholipase A₂ (hereinafter called, “sPLA₂”) has been thoroughly described in two articles, namely, “Cloning and Recombinant Expression of Phospholipase A₂ Present in Rheumatoid Arthritic Synovial Fluid” by Seilhamer, Jeffrey J.; Pruzanski, Waldemar; Vadas Peter; Plant, Shelley; Miller, Judy A.; Kloss, Jean; and Johnson, Lorin K.; The Journal of Biological Chemistry, Vol. 264, No. 10, Issue of April 5, pp. 5335-5338, 1989; and “Structure and Properties of a Human Non-pancreatic Phospholipase A₂” by Kramer, Ruth M.; Hession, Catherine; Johansen, Berit; Hayes, Gretchen. McGray, Paula; Chow, E. Pingchang; Tizard, Richard; and Pepinsky, R. Blake; The Journal of Biological Chemistry, Vol. 264, No. 10, Issue of April 5, pp. 5768-5775, 1989; the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

It is believed that sPLA₂ is a rate limiting enzyme in the arachidonic acid cascade which hydrolyzes membrane phospholipids. Thus, it is important to develop compounds which inhibit sPLA₂ mediated release of fatty acids (e.g., arachidonic acid). Such compounds would be of value in general treatment of conditions induced and/or maintained by overproduction of sPLA₂; such as sepsis or rheumatoid arthritis.

It is desirable to develop new compounds and treatments for sPLA₂ induced diseases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides novel indole compounds having potent and selective effectiveness as inhibitors of mammalian sPLA₂.

This invention is also the use of novel indole compounds useful in the treatment and prevention of Inflammatory Diseases.

This invention is also the use of novel indole compounds to inhibit mammalian sPLA₂ mediated release of fatty acids.

This invention is also a pharmaceutical composition containing any of the indole compounds of the invention.

I. Definitions:

The term, “Inflammatory Diseases” refers to diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, septic shock, adult respiratory distress syndrome, pancreatitis, trauma-induced shock, bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, rheumatoid arthritis, cystic fibrosis, stroke, acute bronchitis, chronic bronchitis, acute bronchiolitis, chronic bronchiolitis, osteoarthritis, gout, spondylarthropathris, ankylosing spondylitis, Reiter's syndrome, psoriatic arthropathy, enterapathric spondylitis, Juvenile arthropathy or juvenile ankylosing spondylitis, Reactive arthropathy, infectious or post-infectious arthritis, gonoccocal arthritis, tuberculous arthritis, viral arthritis, fungal arthritis, syphilitic arthritis, Lyme disease, arthritis associated with vasculitic syndromes, polyarteritis nodosa, hypersensitivity vasculitis, Luegenec's granulomatosis, polymyalgin rheumatica, joint cell arteritis, calcium crystal deposition arthropathris, pseudo gout, non-articular rheumatism, bursitis, tenosynomitis, epicondylitis (tennis elbow), carpal tunnel syndrome, repetitive use injury (typing), miscellaneous forms of arthritis, neuropathic joint disease (charco and joint), hemarthrosis (hemarthrosic), Henoch-Schonlein Purpura, hypertrophic osteoarthropathy, multicentric reticulohistiocytosis, arthritis associated with certain diseases, surcoilosis, hemochromatosis, sickle cell disease and other hemoglobinopathries, hyperlipoproteineimia, hypogammaglobulinemia, hyperparathyroidism, acromegaly, familial Mediterranean fever, Behat's Disease, systemic lupus erythrematosis, or relapsing polychondritis and related diseases which comprises administering to a mammal in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of the compound of formula I in an amount sufficient to inhibit sPLA₂ mediated release of fatty acid and to thereby inhibit or prevent the arachidonic acid cascade and its deleterious products.

The term, “indole nucleus” refers to a nucleus (having numbered positions) with the structural formula (X):

The indole compounds of the invention employ certain defining terms as follows:

The term, “alkyl” by itself or as part of another substituent means, unless otherwise defined, a straight or branched chain monovalent hydrocarbon radical such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, tertiary butyl, sec-butyl, n-pentyl, and n-hexyl.

The term, “alkenyl” employed alone or in combination with other terms means a straight chain or branched monovalent hydrocarbon group having the stated number range of carbon atoms, and typified by groups such as vinyl, propenyl, crotonyl, isopentenyl, and various butenyl isomers.

The term, “hydrocarbyl” means an organic group containing only carbon and hydrogen.

The term, “halo” means fluoro, chloro, bromo, or iodo.

The term, heterocyclic radical, refers to radicals derived from monocyclic or polycyclic, saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic nuclei having 5 to 14 ring atoms and containing from 1 to 3 hetero atoms selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur. Typical heterocyclic radicals are pyrrolyl, pyrrolodinyl, piperidinyl, furanyl, thiophenyl, pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, phenylimidazolyl, triazolyl, isoxazolyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, indolyl, carbazolyl, norharmanyl, azaindolyl, benzofuranyl, dibenzofuranyl, dibenzothiophenyl, indazolyl, imidazo(1.2-A)pyridinyl, benzotriazolyl, anthranilyl, 1,2-benzisoxazolyl, benzoxazolyl, benzothiazolyl, purinyl, pyridinyl, dipyridylyl, phenylpyridinyl, benzylpyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, phenylpyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, 1,3,5-triazinyl, quinolinyl, phthalazinyl, quinazolinyl, morpholino, thiomorpholino, homopiperazinyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, tetrahydropyranyl, oxacanyl, 1,3-dioxolanyl, 1,3-dioxanyl, 1,4-dioxanyl, tetrahydrothiopheneyl, pentamethylenesulfadyl, 1,3-dithianyl, 1,4-dithianyl, 1,4-thioxanyl, azetidinyl, hexamethyleneiminium, heptamethyleneiminium, piperazinyl and quinoxalinyl.

The term, “carbocyclic radical” refers to radicals derived from a saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted 5 to 14 membered organic nucleus whose ring forming atoms (other than hydrogen) are solely carbon atoms. Typical carbocyclic radicals are cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, phenyl, spiro[5.5]undecanyl, naphthyl, norbornanyl, bicycloheptadienyl, tolulyl, xylenyl, indenyl, stilbenyl, terphenylyl, diphenylethylenyl, phenyl-cyclohexenyl, acenaphthylenyl, and anthracenyl, biphenyl, bibenzylyl and related bibenzylyl homologues represented by the formula (a):

where n is a number from 1 to 8.

The term, “non-interfering substituent”, refers to radicals suitable for substitution at positions 4,5,6 and/or 7 of the indole nucleus and on other nucleus substituents (as hereinafter described for Formula I), and radicals suitable for substitution on the heterocyclic radical and carbocyclic radical as defined above. Illustrative non-interfering radicals are C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₂-C₈ alkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkynyl, C₇-C₁₂ aralkyl, C₇-C₁₂ alkaryl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, phenyl, tolulyl, xylenyl, biphenyl, C₁-C₈ alkoxy, C₂-C₈ alkenyloxy, C₂-C₈ alkynyloxy, C₂-C₁₂ alkoxyalkyl, C₂-C₁₂ alkoxyalkyloxy, C₂-C₁₂ alkylcarbonyl, C₂-C₁₂ alkylcarbonylamino, C₂-C₁₂ alkoxyamino, C₂-C₁₂ alkoxyaminocarbonyl, C₁-C₁₂ alkylamino, C₁-C₆ alkylthio, C₂-C₁₂ alkylthiocarbonyl, C₁-C₈ alkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₈ alkylsulfonyl, C₂-C₈ haloalkoxy, C₁-C₈ haloalkylsulfonyl, C₂-C₈ haloalkyl, C₁-C₈ hydroxyalkyl, —C(O)O(C₁-C₈ alkyl), —(CH₂)_(n)—O—(C₁-C₈ alkyl), benzyloxy, phenoxy, phenylthio, —(CONHSO₂R), —CHO, amino, amidino, bromo, carbamyl, carboxyl, carbalkoxy, —(CH₂)_(n)—CO₂H, chloro, cyano, cyanoguanidinyl, fluoro, guanidino, hydrazide, hydrazino, hydrazido, hydroxy, hydroxyamino, iodo, nitro, phosphono, —SO₃H, thioacetal, thiocarbonyl, and carbonyl; where n is from 1 to 8 and R is C₁-C₈ alkyl.

The term, “organic substituent” refers to a monovalent radical consisting of carbon and hydrogen with or without oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, halogen, or other elements. Illustrative organic substituents are C₁-C₈ alkyl, aryl, C₇-C₁₄ aralkyl, C₇-C₁₄ alkaryl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₁-C₈ alkoxyalkyl and these groups substitued with halogen, —CF₃, —OH, C₁-C₈ alkyl, amino, carbonyl, and —CN.

The term, “hydroxyfunctional amide” is a group represented by the formula:

wherein Y is oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur; R^(4a) is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, OH, (C₁-C₆)alkoxy, and aryloxy; and wherein R^(4b) is hydrogen or an organic substituent selected from the group consisting of C₁-C₈ alkyl, aryl, C₇-C₁₄ aralkyl, C₇-C₁₄ alkaryl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₁-C₈ alkoxyalkyl and these groups substitued with halogen, —CF₃, —OH, C₁-C₈ alkyl, amino, carbonyl, and —CN.

The term “substituted group” is an organic group substituted with one or more non-interfering substituents.

The words, “hydroxyfunctional amide linker” refer to a divalent linking group symbolized as, -(L_(h))-, which has the function of joining the 4-position of the indole nucleus to an hydroxyfunctional amide group in the general relationship:

The words, “hydroxyfunctional amide linker length”, refer to the number of atoms (excluding hydrogen) in the shortest chain of the linking group -(L_(h))- that connects the 4-position of the indole nucleus with the hydroxyfunctional amide group. The presence of a carbocyclic ring in -(L_(h))- counts as the number of atoms approximately equivalent to the calculated diameter of the carbocyclic ring. Thus, a benzene or cyclohexane ring in the acid linker counts as 2 atoms in calculating the length of -(L_(h))-. Illustrative hydroxyfunctional amide linker groups are;

wherein, groups (a), (b) and (c) have acid linker lengths of 5, 7, and 2, respectively.

The term, “(acidic group)” means an organic group which when attached to an indole nucleus at position 5, through suitable linking atoms (hereinafter defined as the “acid linker”), acts as a proton donor capable of hydrogen bonding. Illustrative of an (acidic group) are the following:

where n is 1 to 8, R₈₀ is a metal or C₁-C₈ and R₈₁ is an organic substituent or —CF₃.

The words, “acid linker” refer to a divalent linking group symbolized as, -(L_(a))-, which has the function of joining the 5 position of the indole nucleus to an acidic group in the general relationship:

The words, “acid linker length”, refer to the number of atoms (excluding hydrogen) in the shortest chain of the linking group -(L_(a))- that connects the 5 position of the indole nucleus with the acidic group. The presence of a carbocyclic ring in -(L_(a))- counts as the number of atoms approximately equivalent to the calculated diameter of the carbocyclic ring. Thus, a benzene or cyclohexane ring in the acid linker counts as 2 atoms in calculating the length of -(L_(a))-. Illustrative acid linker groups are;

wherein, groups (a), (b), and (c) have acid linker lengths of 5, 7, and 2, respectively.

The term, “amine”, includes primary, secondary and tertiary amines.

The terms, “mammal” and “mammalian” include human and domesticated quadrupeds.

The term, “alkylene chain of 1 or 2 carbon atoms” refers to the divalent radicals, —CH₂—CH₂— and —CH₂—.

The term, “group containing 1 to 4 non-hydrogen atoms” refers to relatively small groups which form substituents at the 2 position of the indole nucleus, said groups may contain non-hydrogen atoms alone, or non-hydrogen atoms plus hydrogen atoms as required to satisfy the unsubstituted valence of the non-hydrogen atoms, for example; (i) groups absent hydrogen which contain no more than 4 non-hydrogen atoms such as —CF₃, —Cl, —Br, —NO₂, —CN, —SO₃; and (ii) groups having hydrogen atoms which contain less than 4 non-hydrogen atoms such as —CH₃, —C₂H₅, and —CH═CH₂.

The term “oxime amide” means the radical, —C═NOR—C(O)NH₂.

The term “thio-oxime amide” means the radical —C═NOR—C(S)—NH₂.

The term “spiro[5.5]undecanyl” refers to the group represented by the formula;

II. The Hydroxyfunctional Amide 1H-indole Compounds of the Invention:

The present invention provides novel classes of indole compounds useful as sPLA₂ inhibitors for the treatment of inflammation. Classes of indole compounds of this invention include indole glyoxylamide hydroxy functional amide derivatives, indole-3-oxime amide hydroxy functional amide derivatives and indole acetamide hydroxy functional amide derivatives. The compounds of the invention have the general formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or prodrug thereof;

wherein

R₁ is selected from groups (a), (b), and (c) wherein;

-   -   (a) is C₇-C₂₀ alkyl, C₇-C₂₀ haloalkyl, C₇-C₂₀ alkenyl, C₇-C₂₀         alkynyl, carbocyclic radical, carbocyclic radical substituted         with non-interfering substituents or heterocyclic radical, or     -   (b) is a member of (a) substituted with one or more         independently selected non-interfering substituents;     -   (c) is the group -(L)-R₈₀; where, -(L)- is a divalent linking         group of 1 to 12 atoms selected from carbon, hydrogen, oxygen,         nitrogen, and sulfur; wherein the combination of atoms in -(L)-         are selected from the group consisting of (i) carbon and         hydrogen only, (ii) sulfur only, (iii) oxygen only, (iv)         nitrogen and hydrogen only, (v) carbon, hydrogen, and sulfur         only, and (vi) and carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen only; and where         R₈₀ is a group selected from (a) or (b);

R₂ is hydrogen, or a group containing 1 to 4 non-hydrogen atoms plus any required hydrogen atoms;

R₃ is -(L₃)-Z, where -(L₃)- is a divalent linker group selected from a bond or a divalent group selected from:

and Z is selected from an oxime amide or oxime thioamide group represented by the formulae,

wherein X is oxygen or sulfur, R_(a) is independently selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, aryl, C₁-C₈ alkaryl, C₁-C₈ alkoxy, aralkyl and —CN;

R₄ is the group, -(L_(h))-(hydroxyfunctional amide group); wherein -(L_(h))-, is an hydroxyfunctional amide linker having an hydroxyfunctional amide linker length of 1 to 8; and wherein a hydroxyfunctional amide is represented by the formula:

wherein Y is oxygen, nitrogen (substituted with hydrogen or alkyl) or sulfur; R^(4a) is selected from the group consisting of OH, (C₁-C₆)alkoxy, (C₇-C₁₄)alkaryloxy, (C₂-C₈)alkenyloxy, (C₇-C₁₄) aralkyloxy, (C₇-C₁₄)aralkenyloxy and aryloxy; and wherein R^(4b) is hydrogen or an organic substituent selected from the group consisting of C₁-C₈ alkyl, aryl, C₇-C₁₄ aralkyl, C₇-C₁₄ alkaryl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₁-C₈ alkoxyalkyl and these groups substitued with halogen, —CF₃, —OH, C₁-C₈ alkyl, amino, carbonyl, and —CN;

R₅ is selected from hydrogen, a non-interfering substituent, or the group, -(L_(a))-(acidic group); wherein -(L_(a))-, is an acid linker having an acid linker length of 1 to 8.

R₆ and R₇ are selected from hydrogen, non-interfering substituent, carbocyclic radical, carbocyclic radical substituted with non-interfering substituent(s), heterocyclic radicals, and heterocyclic radical substituted with non-interfering substituent(s).

Preferred Subgroups of Compounds of Formula (I):

Preferred R₁ Substituents:

A preferred subclass of compounds of formula (I) are those where for R₁ the divalent linking group -(L₁)- is a group represented by any one of the following formulae (Ia), (Ib), (Ic), (Id), (Ie), or (If):

where Q₁ is a bond or any of the divalent groups (Ia), (Ib), (Ic), (Id), (Ie), and (If) and each R₁₀ is independently hydrogen, C₁₋₈ alkyl, aryl, C₁₋₈ haloalkyl or C₁₋₈ alkoxy.

Particularly preferred as the linking group -(L₁)- of R₁ is an alkylene chain of 1 or 2 carbon atoms, namely, —(CH₂)— or —(CH₂—CH₂)—.

Also preferred as a subclass of compounds of formula (I) are those where R₁ is represented by the group -L₁-R₁₁. The preferred group for R₁₁ is a substituted or unsubstituted group selected from the group consisting of C₅-C₁₄ cycloalkyl, C₅-C₁₄ cycloalkenyl, phenyl, naphthyl, norbornanyl, bicycloheptadienyl, tolulyl, xylenyl, indenyl, stilbenyl, terphenylyl, diphenylethylenyl, phenyl-cyclohexenyl, acenaphthylenyl, and anthracenyl, biphenyl, bibenzylyl and related bibenzylyl homologues represented by the formula (a);

where n is a number from 1 to 8.

Particularly preferred are compounds of formula (I) wherein for R₁ the combined group -(L₁)-R₁₁ is selected from the group consisting of

where R₁₂ is a radical independently selected from halo, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₁-C₈ alkoxy, —S—(C₁-C₈ alkyl), —O—(C₁-C₈ alkyl) and C₁-C₈ haloalkyl where t is a number from 0 to 5 and u is a number from 0 to 4.

Preferred is the group -(L₁)-R₁₁; where, -(L₁)- is a divalent linking group of 1 to 8 atoms and where R₁₁ is a group selected from (a) or (b).

Preferred for R₁₁ is —(CH₂)_(m)—R¹² wherein m is an integer from 1 to 6, and R¹² is (d) a group represented by the formula:

wherein a, c, e, n, q, and t are independently an integer from 0 to 2, R¹³ and R¹⁴ are independently selected from a halogen, C₁ to C₈ alkyl, C₁ to C₈ alkyloxy, C₁ to C₈ alkylthio, aryl, heteroaryl, and C₁ to C₈ haloalkyl, a is an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom, L⁵ is a bond, —(CH₂)v-, —C═C—, —CC—, —O—, or —S—, v is an integer from 0 to 2, β is —CH₂— or —(CH₂)₂—, γ is an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom, b is an integer from 0 to 3, d is an integer from 0 to 4, f, p, and w are independently an integer from 0 to 5, r is an integer from 0 to 7, and u is an integer from 0 to 4, or is (e) a member of (d) substituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of C₁ to C₆ alkyl, C₁ to C₈ alkyloxy, C₁ to C₈ haloalkyloxy, C₁ to C₈ haloalkyl, aryl, and a halogen. Preferred R₂ Substituents:

R₂ is preferably selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₂-C₄ alkenyl, —O—(C₁-C₃ alkyl), —S—(C₁-C₃ alkyl), —C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl —CF₃, halo, —NO₂, —CN, —SO₃. Particularly preferred R₂ groups are selected from hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, cyclopropyl, —F, —CF₃, —Cl, —Br, or —O—CH₃.

Preferred R₃ Substituents:

A preferred subclass of compounds of formula (I) are those wherein X is oxygen.

Another preferred subclass of compounds of formula (I) are those wherein Z is an oxime amide group.

Also preferred are compounds of formula (I) wherein Z is an acetamide group represented by the structure

and R^(3a) is hydrogen, methyl or ethyl. For the group R₃ it is preferred that the linking group -(L₃)- be a bond. Preferred R₄ substituents:

Another preferred subclass of compounds of formula (I) are those wherein R₄ is a substituent having an hydroxyfunctional amide linker with an hydroxyfunctional amide linker length of 2 or 3 and the hydroxyfunctional amide linker group, -(L_(h))-, for R₄ is selected from a group represented by the formula;

where Q₂ is selected from the group —(CH₂)—, —O—, —NH—, —C(O)—, and —S—, and each R₄₀ is independently selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, aryl, C₁-C₈ alkaryl, C₁-C₈ alkoxy, aralkyl, and halo. Most preferred are compounds where the hydroxyfunctional amide linker, -(L_(h))-, for R₄ is selected from the specific groups;

where R₄₀ is hydrogen or C₁-C₈ alkyl. Preferred as the hydroxyfunctional amide group in the group R₄ is the group:

wherein R^(4a) is selected from the group consisting of OH, (C₁-C₆)alkoxy, (C₂-C₈)alkenyloxy, (C₇-C₁₄)aralkyloxy, and aryloxy; and wherein R^(4b) is an organic substituent selected from the group consisting of H, C₁-C₈ alkyl, aryl, C₇-C₁₄ aralkyl, C₇-C₁₄ alkaryl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₁-C₈ alkoxyalkyl and these groups substituted with halogen, —CF₃, —OH, C₁-C₈ alkyl, amino, carbonyl, and —CN. A more preferred R^(4a) group is selected from the group consisting of —OH, —OCH₃, phenyloxy and —OC₂H₅ while a more preferred R^(4b) is selected from the group consisting of H, C₁-C₈ alkyl, aryl, C₇-C₁₄ aralkyl, C₇-C₁₄ alkaryl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl. A most preferred R^(4b) is a group selected from H, CH₃, C₂H₅ and C₃H₇. A salt or a prodrug derivative of the (hydroxyfunctional amide group) is also a suitable substituent. Preferred R₅ Substituents:

Preferred acid linker, -(L_(a))-, for R₅ is selected from the group consisting of;

wherein R₅₄, R₅₅, R₅₆ and R₅₇ are each independently hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₁-C₈ haloalkyl, aryl, C₁-C₈ alkoxy, or halo. Preferred (acidic group) for R₅ is selected from the group consisting of —CO₂H, —SO₃H and —P(O) (OH)₂. Preferred R₆ and R₇ Substituents:

Another preferred subclass of compounds of formula (I) are those wherein for R₆ and R₇ the non-interfering substituent is independently methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, thiomethyl, —O-methyl, C₄-C₆ alkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, C₇-C₁₂ aralkyl, C₇-C₁₂ alkaryl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, phenyl, tolulyl, xylenyl, biphenyl, C₁-C₆ alkoxy, C₂-C₆ alkenyloxy, C₂-C₆ alkynyloxy, C₂-C₁₂ alkoxyalkyl, C₂-C₁₂ alkoxyalkyloxy, C₂-C₁₂ alkylcarbonyl, C₂-C₁₂ alkylcarbonylamino, C₂-C₁₂ alkoxyamino, C₂-C₁₂ alkoxyaminocarbonyl, C₁-C₁₂ alkylamino, C₁-C₆ alkylthio, C₂-C₁₂ alkylthiocarbonyl, C₁-C₆ alkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₆ alkylsulfonyl, C₂-C₆ haloalkoxy, C₁-C₆ haloalkylsulfonyl, C₂-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₆ hydroxyalkyl, —C(O)O(C₁-C₆ alkyl), —(CH₂)_(n)—O—(C₁-C₆ alkyl), benzyloxy, phenoxy, phenylthio, —(CONHSO₂R), —CHO, amino, amidino, bromo, carbamyl, carboxyl, carbalkoxy, —(CH₂)_(n)—CO₂H, chloro, cyano, cyanoguanidinyl, fluoro, guanidino, hydrazide, hydrazino, hydrazido, hydroxy, hydroxyamino, iodo, nitro, phosphono, —SO₃H, thioacetal, thiocarbonyl, and carbonyl; where n is from 1 to 8.

Most preferred as non-interfering substituents are methyl, ethyl, propyl, and isopropyl.

Preferred compounds of the invention are those having the general formula (II), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or prodrug derivative thereof;

wherein

R₂₂ is selected from hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, cyclopropyl, —F, —CF₃, —Cl, —Br, or —O—CH₃;

wherein R^(4a) is independently selected from the group consisting of OH, (C₁-C₁₀)alkoxy, , (C₇-C₁₄)aralkyloxy, (C₂-C₈)alkenyloxy, (C₇-C₁₄) aralkenyloxy, (C₃-C₁₀) cycloalkyloxy, heteroaryloxy and aryl; and

wherein R^(4b) is independently selected from the group consisting of H, C₁-C₈ alkyl, aryl, C₇-C₁₄ aralkyl, C₇-C₁₄ alkaryl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl. A preferred R^(4a) group is the group OH, or OCH₃ or phenyloxy ; a preferred R^(4b) group is the group H, or (C₁-C₆)alkyl; and -(L_(h))- is a divalent group selected from;

where R₄₀, R₄₁, R₄₂, and R₄₃ are each independently selected from hydrogen or C₁-C₈ alkyl.

R₁₆ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₁-C₈ alkoxy, C₁-C₈ alkylthio, C₁-C₈ haloalkyl, C₁-C₈ hydroxyalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl and halo.

R₁₃ is selected from hydrogen and C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₁-C₈ alkoxy, —S—(C₁-C₈ alkyl), C₁-C₈ haloalkyl, C₁-C₈, phenyl, halophenyl, hydroxyalkyl, and halo, and t is an integer from 0 to 5.

Preferred specific compounds (and all pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates and prodrug derivatives thereof) which are illustrative of the compounds of the invention are as follow:

-   2-[[3-(Aminooxoacetyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]-N-(hydroxy)acetamide; -   2-[[3-(Aminooxoacetyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]-N-(methyloxy)acetamide; -   2-[[3-(Aminooxoacetyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-y]oxy]-N-(methyl)-N-(methyloxy)acetamide; -   2-[[3-(Aminooxoacetyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]-N-(hydroxy)-N-(methyl)acetamide; -   2-[[3-(Aminooxoacetyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]-N-(ethyloxy)acetamide; -   2-[[3-(Aminooxoacetyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]-N-(2-propenyloxy)acetamide; -   2-[[3-(Aminooxoacetyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]-N-(hydroxy)-N-(2-propyl)acetamide; -   2-[[3-(Aminooxoacetyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]-N-(tert-butyloxy)acetamide; -   2-[[3-(Aminooxoacetyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]-N-[2-(methyl)propyloxy]acetamide; -   2-[[3-(Aminooxoacetyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]-N-(phenylmethyloxy)acetamide; -   2-[[3-(Aminooxoacetyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]-N-(methyl)-N-(phenylmethyloxy)acetamide; -   2-[[3-(Aminooxoacetyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]-N-(phenyloxy)acetamide; -   2-[[3-(Aminooxoacetyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]-N-(methyl)-N-(phenyloxy)acetamide; -   2-[[3-(Aminooxoacetyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]-N-(cyclohexyl)-N-(hydroxy)acetamide; -   2-[[3-(2-Amino-2-oxoethyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]-N-(hydroxy)acetamide.

The salts of the above indole compounds represented by formulae (I) and (II) are an additional aspect of the invention. In those instances where the compounds of the invention possess acidic or basic functional groups various salts may be formed which are more water soluble and physiologically suitable than the parent compound. Representative pharmaceutically acceptable salts, include but are not limited to, the alkali and alkaline earth salts such as lithium, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, aluminum and the like. Salts are conveniently prepared from the free acid by treating the acid in solution with a base or by exposing the acid to an ion exchange resin.

Included within the definition of pharmaceutically acceptable salts are the relatively non-toxic, inorganic and organic base addition salts of compounds of the present invention, for example, ammonium, quaternary ammonium, and amine cations, derived from nitrogenous bases of sufficient basicity to form salts with the compounds of this invention (see, for example, S. M. Berge, et al., “Pharmaceutical Salts,” J. Phar. Sci., 66: 1-19 (1977)). Moreover, the basic group(s) of the compound of the invention may be reacted with suitable organic or inorganic acids to form salts such as acetate, benzenesulfonate, benzoate, bicarbonate, bisulfate, bitartrate, borate, bromide, camsylate, carbonate, chloride, clavulanate, citrate, chloride, edetate, edisylate, estolate, esylate, fluoride, fumarate, gluceptate, gluconate, glutamate, glycolylarsanilate, hexylresorcinate, bromide, chloride, hydroxynaphthoate, iodide, isothionate, lactate, lactobionate, laurate, malate, malseate, mandelate, mesylate, methylbromide, methylnitrate, methylsulfate, mucate, napsylate, nitrate, oleate, oxalate, palmitate, pantothenate, phosphate, polygalacturonate, salicylate, stearate, subacetate, succinate, tannate, tartrate, tosylate, trifluoroacetate, trifluoromethane sulfonate, and valerate.

Certain compounds of the invention may possess one or more chiral centers and may thus exist in optically active forms. Likewise, when the compounds contain an alkenyl or alkenylene group there exists the possibility of cis- and trans-isomeric forms of the compounds. The R— and S-isomers and mixtures thereof, including racemic mixtures as well as mixtures of cis- and trans-isomers, are contemplated by this invention. Additional asymmetric carbon atoms can be present in a substituent group such as an alkyl group. All such isomers as well as the mixtures thereof are intended to be included in the invention. If a particular stereoisomer is desired, it can be prepared by methods well known in the art by using stereospecific reactions with starting materials which contain the asymmetric centers and are already resolved or, alternatively by methods which lead to mixtures of the stereoisomers and subsequent resolution by known methods. For example, a racemic mixture may be reacted with a single enantiomer of some other compound. This changes the racemic form into a mixture of diastereomers and diastereomers, because they have different melting points, different boiling points, and different solubilities can be separated by conventional means, such as crystallization.

Prodrugs are derivatives of the compounds of the invention which have chemically or metabolically cleavable groups and become by solvolysis or under physiological conditions the compounds of the invention which are pharmaceutically active in vivo. Derivatives of the compounds of this invention have activity in both their acid and base derivative forms, but the acid derivative form often offers advantages of solubility, tissue compatibility, or delayed release in a mammalian organism (see, Bundgard, H., Design of Prodrugs, pp. 7-9, 21-24, Elsevier, Amsterdam 1985). Prodrugs include acid derivatives well known to practitioners of the art, such as, for example, esters prepared by reaction of the parent acidic compound with a suitable alcohol, or amides prepared by reaction of the parent acid compound with a suitable amine. Simple aliphatic or aromatic esters derived from acidic groups pendent on the compounds of this invention are preferred prodrugs. In some cases it is desirable to prepare double ester type prodrugs such as (acyloxy) alkyl esters or ((alkoxycarbonyl)oxy)alkyl esters. Particularly preferred esters as prodrugs are methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, morpholinoethyl, and N,N-diethylglycolamido.

N,N-diethylglycolamido ester prodrugs may be prepared by reaction of the sodium salt of a compound of Formula (I) (in a medium such as dimethylformamide) with 2-chloro-N,N-diethylacetamide (available from Aldrich Chemical Co., Milwaukee, Wis. USA; Item No. 25,099-6).

Morpholinylethyl ester prodrugs may be prepared by reaction of the sodium salt of a compound of Formula (I) (in a medium such as dimethylformamide) 4-(2-chloroethyl) morpholine hydrochloride (available from Aldrich Chemical Co., Milwaukee, Wis. USA, Item No. C4,220-3).

-   a) The 1H-indole-3-glyoxylamide hydroxyfunctional amide derivative     compounds of the invention are prepared from the methyl ester     compound 1A which was prepared as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.     5,654,326, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by     reference, and also as disclosed in preparation 1, in the     experimental section infra. Derivatives of the ester compound of     formula (1A) such as the saponifaction product may also be employed     as starting material for the preparation of compounds of the present     invention by those skilled in the art. In the protocol beginning     with compound 1A, the ester is converted to the hydroxyfunctional     amide compound of formula I (see scheme 1 below)

This is accomplished by in-situ cleavage of the ester compound (1A), followed by coupling of the resulting intermediate with a protected or unprotected, substituted or unsubstituted hydroxylamine group or derivative in the presence of a coupling agent to form a protected or unprotected hydroxyfunctional amide derivative of a compound of formula (I). For example, the ester compound of formula (1A) is reacted at ambient temperature, in the presence of excess 2,4,6-collidine (collidine) and benzotriazol-1-yolxytris(dimethylamino)phosphonium hexafluorophosphonate (coupling catalyst, see Tetrahedron Lett, 1219 (1975)) with o-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl) hydroxylamine to form after 1-4 hours, the o-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl) substituted hydroxyfunctional amide derivative. The silyl or other protecting group is removed by well known methods such as the use of trifluoroacetic acid to afford the desired hydroxyfunctional amide compound of formula (I).

Typically, the condensation or coupling is performed in a solvent such a dimethyl formamide, tetrahydrofuran or aqueous mixtures of the like. In general protic solvents are preferred for the purpose of this invention. The reaction is catalyzed by a base including weak organic or inorganic bases. Organic bases such as collidine are preferred. The reaction is also preferably run in the presence of agents that retard or reduce racemization of the hudroxyfunctional amide, the substituted hydroxylamine or its derivative, such as for example, benzotriazolyl-N-oxy-tris(dimethylamino)phosphonium hexafluorophosphate.

Upon completion of the reaction, the mixture is concentrated in vacuo. The resulting product mixture is chromatographed or crystallized, e.g., by sonication to obtain the target compound.

It is known to one skilled in the art that numerous coupling procedures for example, acid to amide or ester to amide conversion procedures, using various bases and or coupling agents may be practiced to prepare the compounds of the present invention. Scheme 2 below,

provides an alternative scheme for the preparation of compounds of the present invention.

Yet another alternative preparation method is the interconversion of compounds of the invention as shown for example in Scheme 3:

These and other methods are well known in the arts and can be found in reference texts such as for example J. March Advanced Organic Chemistry, Wiley Interscience publishers, New York, N.Y., 1985, and R. C. Larock Comprehensive Organic Transformations, VCH Publishers, New York, N.Y., 1989. The protected compounds of formula (2) are also useful sPLA₂ inhibitors and are also compounds of this invention.

-   b) 1H-indole-3-acetamide amino acid derivative sPLA₂ inhibitors are     similarly prepared by condensation of the protected or unprotected,     substituted or unsubstituted hydroxylamine or derivative thereof,     with the 1H-indole-3-acetamide sPLA₂ inhibitor. The     1H-indole-3-acetamide sPLA₂ inhibitors and methods of making them     are set out in U.S. Pat. No. 5,684,034, the entire disclosure of     which is incorporated herein by reference. Indole-3-acetamide     hydroxyfunctional amide derivative sPLA₂ inhibitor compounds of the     present invention are represented by compounds of formula (IIb), and     pharmaceutically acceptable salts and prodrug derivatives thereof,     wherein

X is oxygen or sulfur;

R₁₁ is selected from groups (i), (ii) (iii) and (iv) where;

-   -   (i) is C₆-C₂₀ alkyl, C₆-C₂₀ alkenyl, C₆-C₂₀ alkynyl, C₆-C₂₀         haloalkyl, C₄-C₁₂ cycloalkyl, or     -   (ii) is aryl or aryl substituted by halo, nitro, —CN, —CHO, —OH,         —SH, C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, C₁-C₁₀ alkylthio, C₁-C₁₀ alkoxyl, carboxyl,         amino, or hydroxyamino; or     -   (iii) is —(CH₂)_(n)—(R₈₀), or —(NH)—(R₈₁), where n is 1 to 8,         and R₈₀ is a group recited in (i), and R₈₁ is selected from a         group recited in (i) or (ii);     -   (iv) is         where R₈₇ is hydrogen or C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, and R₈₈ is selected from         the group; phenyl, naphthyl, indenyl, and biphenyl,         unsubstituted or substituted by halo, —CN, —CHO, —OH, —SH,         C₁-C₁₀ alkylthio, C₁-C₁₀ alkoxyl, phenyl, nitro, C₁-C₁₀ alkyl,         C₁-C₁₀ haloalkyl, carboxyl, amino, hydroxyamino; or a         substituted or unsubstituted 5 to 8 membered heterocyclic ring;

R₁₂ is halo, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ alkylthio, or C₁-C₆ alkoxy;

-   -   each R₁₃ is independently hydrogen, halo, or methyl;

R₁₄ is the group, -(L_(h))-(hydroxyfunctional amide); wherein -(L_(h))-, is an hydroxyfunctional amide linker having an hydroxyfunctional amide linker length of 1 to 8; and wherein a hydroxyfunctional amide is represented by the formula:

wherein Y is oxygen or sulfur; R^(14a) selected from the group consisting of OH, (C₁-C₆)alkoxy, (C₇-C₁₄)alkaryloxy, (C₂-C₈)alkenyloxy, (C₂-C₈)alkynyloxy, (C₇-C₁₄) aralkyloxy, (C₇-C₁₄) aralkenyloxy and aryloxy; and wherein R^(14b) is hydrogen or an organic substituent selected from the group consisting of C₁-C₈ alkyl, aryl, C₇-C₁₄ aralkyl, C₇-C₁₄ alkaryl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₁-C₈ alkoxyalkyl and these groups substitued with halogen, —CF₃, —OH, C₁-C₈ alkyl, amino, carbonyl, and —CN;

R₁₅, R₁₆, and R₁₇ are each independently hydrogen, C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, C₁-C₁₀alkenyl, C₁-C₁₀ alkynyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, or any two adjacent hydrocarbyl groups in the set R₁₅, R₁₆, and R₁₇, combine with the ring carbon atoms to which they are attached to form a 5 or 6 membered substituted or unsubstituted carbocyclic ring; or C₁-C₁₀ haloalkyl, C₁-C₁₀ alkoxy, C₁-C₁₀ haloalkoxy, C₄-C₈ cycloalkoxy, phenoxy, halo, hydroxy, carboxyl, —SH, —CN, C₁-C₁₀ alkylthio, arylthio, thioacetal, —C(O)O(C₁-C₁₀ alkyl), hydrazide, hydrazino, hydrazido, —NH₂, —NO₂, —NR₈₂R₈₃, and —C(O)NR₈₂R₈₃, where, R₈₂ and R₈₃ are independently hydrogen, C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, C₁-C₁₀ hydroxyalkyl, or taken together with N, R₈₂ and R₈₃ form a 5- to 8-membered heterocyclic ring; or a group having the formula;

where,

-   -   R₈₄ and R₈₅ are each independently selected from hydrogen,         C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, hydroxy, or R₈₄ and R₈₅ taken together are ═O;     -   p is 1 to 5,     -   Z is a bond, —O—, —N(C₁-C₁₀ alkyl)-, —NH—, or —S—; and     -   Q is —CON(R₈₂R₈₃), -5-tetrazolyl, —SO₃H,     -   where n is 1 to 8, R₈₆ is independently selected from hydrogen,         a metal, or C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, and R₉₉ is selected from hydrogen or         C₁-C₁₀ alkyl.

-   c) Indole-3-Oxime amide compounds of the invention are represented     by compounds of formula (III) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt,     solvate or prodrug thereof;     wherein

R₁ is selected from groups (a), (b), and (c) wherein;

-   -   (a) is C₇-C₂₀ alkyl, C₇-C₂₀ haloalkyl, C₇-C₂₀ alkenyl, C₇-C₂₀         alkynyl, carbocyclic radical, or heterocyclic radical, or     -   (b) is a member of (a) substituted with one or more         independently selected non-interfering substituents; or     -   (c) is the group -(L₁)-R₁₁; where, -(L₁)- is a divalent linking         group of 1 to 8 atoms and where R₁₁ is a group selected from (a)         or (b);

R₂ is hydrogen, or a group containing 1 to 4 non-hydrogen atoms plus any required hydrogen atoms;

-(L₃)-Z, is the group where -(L₃)- is a divalent linker group selected from a bond or a divalent group selected from:

and Z is selected from an oxime amide or oxime thioamide group represented by the formulae,

wherein, X is oxygen or sulfur; and R_(a) is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, aryl, C₁-C₈ alkaryl, C₁-C₈ alkoxy, aralkyl and —CN;

R₄ is the group, -(L_(h))-(hydroxyfunctional amide); wherein -(L_(h))-, is an hydroxyfunctional amide linker having an hydroxyfunctional amide linker length of 1 to 8;

R₅ is selected from hydrogen, a non-interfering substituent, or the group, -(L_(a))-(acidic group); wherein -(L_(a))-, is an acid linker having an acid linker length of 1 to 8.

R₆ and R₇ are selected from hydrogen, non-interfering substituent, carbocyclic radical, carbocyclic radical substituted with non-interfering substituent(s), heterocyclic radicals, and heterocyclic radical substituted with non-interfering substituent(s).

Preferred Subgroups of Compounds of Formula (III):

Preferred R₁ Substituents:

A preferred subclass of compounds of formula (III) are those where for R₁ the divalent linking group -(L₁)- is a group represented by any one of the following formulae (Ia), (Ib), (Ic), (Id), (Ie), or (If):

where Q₁ is a bond or any of the divalent groups (Ia), (Ib), (Ic), (Id), (Ie), and (If) and each R₁₀ is independently hydrogen, C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₁₋₈ haloalkyl or C₁₋₈ alkoxy.

Particularly preferred as the linking group -(L₁)- of R₁ is an alkylene chain of 1 or 2 carbon atoms, namely, —(CH₂)— or —(CH₂—CH₂)—.

The preferred group for R₁₁ is a substituted or unsubstituted group selected from the group consisting of C₅-C₁₄ cycloalkyl, C₅-C₁₄ cycloalkenyl, phenyl, naphthyl, norbornanyl, bicycloheptadienyl, tolulyl, xylenyl, indenyl, stilbenyl, terphenylyl, diphenylethylenyl, phenyl-cyclohexenyl, acenaphthylenyl, and anthracenyl, biphenyl, bibenzylyl and related bibenzylyl homologues represented by the formula (a);

where n is a number from 1 to 8.

Particularly preferred are compounds wherein for R₁ the combined group -(L₁)-R₁₁ is selected from the group consisting of

where R₁₂ is a radical independently selected from halo, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₁-C₈ alkoxy, —S—(C₁-C₈ alkyl), —O—(C₁-C₈ alkyl) and C₁-C₈ haloalkyl where t is a number from 0 to 5 and u is a number from 0 to 4.

Also preferred for R₁₁ is —(CH₂)m-R¹² wherein m is an integer from 1 to 6, and R¹² is (d) a group represented by the formula:

wherein a, c, e, n, q, and t are independently an integer from 0 to 2, R¹³ and R¹⁴ are independently selected from a halogen, C₁ to C₈ alkyl, C₁ to C₈ alkyloxy, C₁ to C₈ alkylthio, aryl, heteroaryl, and C₁ to C₈ haloalkyl, α is an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom, L⁵ is a bond, —(CH₂)v-, —C═C—, —CC—, —O—, or —S—, v is an integer from 0 to 2, β is —CH₂— or —(CH₂)₂—, γ is an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom, b is an integer from 0 to 3, d is an integer from 0 to 4, f, p, and w are independently an integer from 0 to 5, r is an integer from 0 to 7, and u is an integer from 0 to 4, or is (e) a member of (d) substituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of C₁ to C₆ alkyl, C₁ to C₈ alkyloxy, C₁ to C₈ haloalkyloxy, C₁ to C₈ haloalkyl, aryl, and a halogen. Preferred R₂ Substituents:

R₂ is preferably selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₂-C₄ alkenyl, —O—(C₁-C₃ alkyl), —S—(C₁-C₃ alkyl), —C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl —CF₃, halo, —NO₂, —CN, —SO₃. Particularly preferred R₂ groups are selected from hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, cyclopropyl, —F, —CF₃, —Cl, —Br, or —O—CH₃.

Preferred R₄ Substituents:

Another preferred subclass of compounds of formula (III) are those wherein R₄ is a substituent having an hydroxyfunctional amide linker with an hydroxyfunctional amide linker length of 2 or 3 and the hydroxyfunctional amide linker group, -(L_(h))-, for R₄ is selected from a group represented by the formula;

where Q₂ is selected from the group —(CH₂)—, —O—, —NH—, —C(O)—, and —S—, and each R₄₀ is independently selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, aryl, C₁-C₈ alkaryl, C₁-C₈ alkoxy, aralkyl, and halo. Most preferred are compounds where the hydroxyfunctional amide linker, -(L_(h))-, for R₄ is selected from the specific groups;

where R₄₀ is hydrogen or C₁-C₈ alkyl. Preferred as the hydroxyfunctional amide in the group R₄ is the group:

wherein R^(4a) selected from the group consisting of OH, (C₁-C₆)alkoxy, (C₇-C₁₄)alkaryloxy, (C₂-C₈)alkenyloxy, (C₇-C₁₄) aralkyloxy, (C₇-C₁₄)aralkenyloxy and aryloxy; and wherein R^(4b) is selected from the group consisting, of H, (C₁-C₆)alkyl, heteroaryl and aryl. A preferred R^(4a) group is the group —OH. A salt or a prodrug derivative of the (hydroxyfunctional amide group) is also a suitable substituent. Preferred R₅ Substituents:

Preferred acid linker, -(L_(a))-, for R₅ is selected from the group consisting of;

wherein R₅₄, R₅₅, R₅₆ and R₅₇ are each independently hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₁-C₈ haloalkyl, aryl, C₁-C₈ alkoxy, or halo. Preferred (acidic group) for R₅ is selected from the group consisting of —CO₂H, —SO₃H and —P(O)(OH)₂ Preferred R₆ and R₇ Substituents:

Another preferred subclass of compounds of formula (III) are those wherein for R₆ and R₇ the non-interfering substituent is independently methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, thiomethyl, —O-methyl, C₄-C₆ alkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, C₇-C₁₂ aralkyl, C₇-C₁₂ alkaryl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, phenyl, tolulyl, xylenyl, biphenyl, C₁-C₆ alkoxy, C₂-C₆ alkenyloxy, C₂-C₆ alkynyloxy, C₂-C₁₂ alkoxyalkyl, C₂-C₁₂ alkoxyalkyloxy, C₂-C₁₂ alkylcarbonyl, C₂-C₁₂ alkylcarbonylamino, C₂-C₁₂ alkoxyamino, C₂-C₁₂ alkoxyaminocarbonyl, C₁-C₁₂ alkylamino, C₁-C₆ alkylthio, C₂-C₁₂ alkylthiocarbonyl, C₁-C₆ alkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₆ alkylsulfonyl, C₂-C₆ haloalkoxy, C₁-C₆ haloalkylsulfonyl, C₂-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₆ hydroxyalkyl, —C(O)O(C₁-C₆ alkyl), —(CH₂)_(n)—O—(C₁-C₆ alkyl), benzyloxy, phenoxy, phenylthio, —(CONHSO₂R), —CHO, amino, amidino, bromo, carbamyl, carboxyl, carbalkoxy, (CH₂)_(n)—CO₂H, chloro, cyano, cyanoguanidinyl, fluoro, guanidino, hydrazide, hydrazino, hydrazido, hydroxy, hydroxyamino, iodo, nitro, phosphono, —SO₃H, thioacetal, thiocarbonyl, and carbonyl; where n is from 1 to 8.

Most preferred as non-interfering substituents are methyl, ethyl, propyl, and isopropyl.

The indole-3-oxime compounds of the invention can be prepared following protocol of scheme 4 below;

To introduce the oxime functionality, the methyl ester of the glyoxylamide (compound 10 in scheme 1, compound 1 in scheme 2, supra.) is heated with hydroxylamine hydrochloride (when R is H) in a THF/methanol mixture for 8 hours or until the reaction was deemed complete. The reaction product is isolated by chromatography or other known laboratory procedure to afford a white solid. Substituted oximes such as when R is methyl, ethyl, phenyl or other substituent can be prepared by reacting the corresponding substituted hydroxylamine hydrochloride or free base with the glyoxylamide as described supra. The ester functionality at the 4 or 5 position on the indole nucleus, as in for example, compound 2, can be: (a) converted to the acid by hydrolysis using lithium hydroxide or other known ester hydrolysis methods to afford compounds of formula 3, or (b) converted to an hydroxyfunctional amide functionality directly or via the acid functionality to afford compounds of formula 4. Preparation of the hydroxyfunctional amide derivative from the ester or acid derivative (Scheme 4, compound 2 or 3 respectively) have also been disclosed supra for the glyoxylamide compounds of formula I.

General procedures for the conversion of organic acids to amides and amide derivatives (e.g., hydroxyfunctional amides) are well known to artisans in the field, and have been documented in general reference texts including for example, J. March Advanced Organic Chemistry, Wiley Interscience publishers, New York, N.Y., 1985, and R. C. Larock, Comprehensive Organic Transformations, VCH Publishers, New York, N.Y., 1989. Additional references, or procedures are found in J. Jones Amino Acids and Peptide Synthesis, Oxford Science Publications, Stephen G. Davis, Editor, Oxford University Press Inc., New York, N.Y., 1992.

III. Method of Making the 1H-Indole-3-Glyoxylamide Starting Material for Preparing the Compounds of the Invention:

The synthesis of the indole compounds of the invention (viz., Compounds of Formulae I and II) can be accomplished by well known methods as recorded in the chemical literature. In particular, the indole starting materials may be prepared by the synthesis schemes taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,654,326; the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Another method of making 1H-indole-3-glyoxylamide sPLA₂ inhibitors is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/105,381, filed Jun. 26, 1998 and titled, “Process for Preparing 4-substituted 1-H-Indole-3-glyoxyamides” the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/105,381 discloses the following process having steps (a) thru (i): Preparing a compound of the formula (Iz) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug derivative thereof

wherein:

R^(1z) is selected from the group consisting of —C₇-C₂₀ alkyl,

where

R^(10z) is selected from the group consisting of halo, C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, C₁-C₁₀ alkoxy, —S—(C₁-C₁₀ alkyl) and halo(C₁-C₁₀)alkyl, and tz is an integer from 0 to 5 both inclusive;

R^(2z) is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, C₁-C₃ alkyl, C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₄ cycloalkenyl, —O—(C₁-C₂ alkyl), —S—(C₁-C₂ alkyl), aryl, aryloxy and HET;

R^(4z) is the group —CO₂H, or salt and prodrug derivative thereof; and

R^(5z), R^(6z) and R^(7z) are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, (C₁-C₆)alkyl, (C₁-C₆)alkoxy, halo(C₁-C₆)alkoxy, halo(C₂-C₆)alkyl, bromo, chloro, fluoro, iodo and aryl;

which process comprises the steps of:

-   -   a) halogenating a compound of formula Xz     -    where R^(8z) is (C₁-C₆)alkyl, aryl or HET;     -    with SO₂Cl₂ to form a compound of formula IX     -   b) hydrolyzing and decarboxylating a compound of formula IXz     -    to form a compound of formula VIIIz     -   c) alkylating a compound of formula VIIz     -    with a compound of formula VIIIz     -    to form a compound of formula VIz     -   d) aminating and dehydrating a compound of formula VIz     -    with an amine of the formula R^(1z)NH₂ in the presence of a         solvent that forms and azeotrope with water to form a compound         of formula Vz;     -   e) oxidizing a compound of formula Vz     -    by refluxing in a polar hydrocarbon solvent having a boiling         point of at least 150° C. and a dielectric constant of at least         10 in the presence of a catalyst to form a compound of formula         IVz     -   f) alkylating a compound of the formula IVz     -    with an alkylating agent of the formula XCH₂R^(4az) where X is         a leaving group and R^(4az) is —CO₂R^(4b), where R^(4bz) is an         acid protecting group to form a compound of formula IIIz     -   g) reacting a compound of formula IIIz     -    with oxalyl chloride and ammonia to form a compound of formula         IIz     -    and     -   h) optionally hydrolyzing a compound of formula IIz     -    to form a compound of formula Iz.         An alternative protocol useful for the synthesis of the starting         material is shown in Scheme 6 below:         The synthesis of indole-3-oxime amides (compound of formula I         and II, supra.) of this invention uses as starting material the         glyoxamide         ((3-(2-amino-1,2-dioxoethyl)-2-methyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl)oxy)acetic         acid methyl ester, compound 10, supra. This starting material is         prepared as set out in the preceding section or by the method of         Example 9 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,654,326 (the disclosure of which is         incorporated herein by reference).

To obtain the glyoxylamide starting material substituted in the 4-position with an (acidic group) linked through an oxygen atom, the reactions outlined in the scheme supra, are used (for conversions 1 through 5, see ref. Robin D. Clark, Joseph M. Muchowski, Lawrence E. Fisher, Lee A. Flippin, David B. Repke, Michel Souchet, Synthesis, 1991, 871-878, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference). The starting material ortho-nitrotoluene, 1, is readily reduced to 2-methyl, 3-methoxyaniline, 2. Reduction of 1 is by the catalytic hydrogenation of the corresponding nitrotoluene using palladium on carbon as catalyst. The reduction can be carried out in ethanol or tetrahydrofuran (THF) or a combination of both, using a low pressure of hydrogen. The aniline 2, obtained, is converted to the N-tert-butyloxycarbonyl derivative 3, in good yield, on heating with di-tert-butyl dicarbonate in THF at reflux temperature. The dilithium salt of the dianion of 3 is generated at −40 to −20° C. in THF using sec-butyllithium and reacted with the appropriately substituted N-methoxy-N-methylalkanamide to form the ketone 4. This product (4) may be purified by crystallization from hexane, or reacted directly with trifluoroacetic acid in methylene chloride to give the 1,3-unsubstituted indole 5. The 1,3-unsubstituted indole 5 is reacted with sodium hydride in dimethylformamide at room temperature (20-25° C.) for 0.5-1.0 hour. The resulting sodium salt of 5 is treated with an equivalent of arylmethyl halide and the mixture stirred at a temperature range of 0-100° C., usually at ambient room temperature, for a period of 4 to 36 hours to give the 1-arylmethylindole, 6. This indole, 6, is O-demethylated by stirring with boron tribromide in methylene chloride for approximately 5 hours (see ref. Tsung-Ying Shem and Charles A Winter, Adv. Drug Res., 1977, 12, 176, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference). The 4-hydroxyindole, 7, is alkylated with an alpha bromoalkanoic acid ester in dimethylformamide (DMF) using sodiumhydride as a base, with reaction condition of 5 to 6. The α-[(indol-4-yl)oxy]alkanoic acid ester, 8, is reacted with oxalyl chloride in methylene chloride to give 9, which is not purified but reacted directly with ammonia to give the glyoxamide 10.

Glyoxamide starting material compounds substituted at the 5 position of the indole nucleus with an (acidic group) may be prepared by methods and starting materials shown in schemes 2 and 3 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,654,326; the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

IV. Methods of Using the Compounds of the Invention:

The indole compounds described herein are believed to achieve their beneficial therapeutic action principally by direct inhibition of mammalian (including human) sPLA₂, and not by acting as antagonists for arachidonic acid, nor other active agents below arachidonic acid in the arachidonic acid cascade, such as 5-lipoxygenases, cyclooxygenases, and etc.

The method of the invention for inhibiting sPLA₂ mediated release of fatty acids comprises contacting mammalian sPLA₂ with a therapeutically effective amount of indole compounds corresponding to Formulae (I) or (II) as described herein including salt or a prodrug derivative thereof.

Another aspect of this invention is a method for treating Inflammatory Diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, septic shock, adult respiratory distress syndrome, pancreatitis, trauma, bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and related diseases which comprises administering to a mammal (including a human) a therapeutically effective dose of the indole compound of the invention (see, formulae I and II).

As previously noted the compounds of this invention are useful for inhibiting sPLA₂ mediated release of fatty acids such as arachidonic acid. By the term, “inhibiting” is meant the prevention or therapeutically significant reduction in release of sPLA₂ initiated fatty acids by the compounds of the invention. By “pharmaceutically acceptable” it is meant the carrier, diluent or excipient must be compatible with the other ingredients of the formulation and not deleterious to the recipient thereof.

The specific dose of a compound administered according to this invention to obtain therapeutic or prophylactic effects will, of course, be determined by the particular circumstances surrounding the case, including, for example, the compound administered, the route of administration and the condition being treated. Typical daily doses will contain a non-toxic dosage level of from about 0.01 mg/kg to about 50 mg/kg of body weight of an active compound of this invention.

Preferably compounds of the invention (per Formula I or II) or pharmaceutical formulations containing these compounds are in unit dosage form for administration to a mammal. The unit dosage form can be a capsule or tablet itself, or the appropriate number of any of these. The quantity of Active ingredient in a unit dose of composition may be varied or adjusted from about 0.1 to about 1000 milligrams or more according to the particular treatment involved. It may be appreciated that it may be necessary to make routine variations to the dosage depending on the age and condition of the patient. The dosage will also depend on the route of administration.

The compound can be administered by a variety of routes including oral, aerosol, rectal, transdermal, subcutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular, and intranasal.

Pharmaceutical formulations of the invention are prepared by combining (e.g., mixing) a therapeutically effective amount of the indole compound of the invention together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent therefor. The present pharmaceutical formulations are prepared by known procedures using well known and readily available ingredients.

In making the compositions of the present invention, the Active ingredient will usually be admixed with a carrier, or diluted by a carrier, or enclosed within a carrier which may be in the form of a capsule, sachet, paper or other container. When the carrier serves as a diluent, it may be a solid, semi-solid or liquid material which acts as a vehicle, or can be in the form of tablets, pills, powders, lozenges, elixirs, suspensions, emulsions, solutions, syrups, aerosols (as a solid or in a liquid medium), or ointment, containing, for example, up to 10% by weight of the active compound. The compounds of the present invention are preferably formulated prior to administration.

For the pharmaceutical formulations any suitable carrier known in the art can be used. In such a formulation, the carrier may be a solid, liquid, or mixture of a solid and a liquid. For example, for intravenous injection the compounds of the invention may be dissolved in at a concentration of 2 mg/ml in a 4% dextrose/0.5% Na citrate aqueous solution. Solid form formulations include powders, tablets and capsules. A solid carrier can be one or more substances which may also act as flavoring agents, lubricants, solubilisers, suspending agents, binders, tablet disintegrating agents and encapsulating material.

Tablets for oral administration may contain suitable excipients such as calcium carbonate, sodium carbonate, lactose, calcium phosphate, together with disintegrating agents, such as maize, starch, or alginic acid, and/or binding agents, for example, gelatin or acacia, and lubricating agents such as magnesium stearate, stearic acid, or talc.

In powders the carrier is a finely divided solid which is in admixture with the finely divided Active ingredient. In tablets the Active ingredient is mixed with a carrier having the necessary binding properties in suitable proportions and compacted in the shape and size desired. The powders and tablets preferably contain from about 1 to about 99 weight percent of the Active ingredient which is the novel compound of this invention. Suitable solid carriers are magnesium carbonate, magnesium stearate, talc, sugar lactose, pectin, dextrin, starch, gelatin, tragacanth, methyl cellulose, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, low melting waxes, and cocoa butter.

Sterile liquid form formulations include suspensions, emulsions, syrups and elixirs.

The Active ingredient can be dissolved or suspended in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, such as sterile water, sterile organic solvent or a mixture of both. The Active ingredient can often be dissolved in a suitable organic solvent, for instance aqueous propylene glycol. Other compositions can be made by dispersing the finely divided Active ingredient in aqueous starch or sodium carboxymethyl cellulose solution or in a suitable oil.

The following pharmaceutical formulations 1 thru 8 are illustrative only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way. “Active ingredient”, refers to a compound according to Formula (I) or (II) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, or prodrug thereof.

Formulation 1

Hard gelatin capsules are prepared using the following ingredients:

Quantity (mg/capsule) Active ingredient 250 Starch, dried 200 Magnesium stearate 10 Total 460 mg

Formulation 2

A tablet is prepared using the ingredients below:

Quantity (mg/tablet) Active ingredient 250 Cellulose, microcrystalline 400 Silicon dioxide, fumed 10 Stearic acid 5 Total 665 mg The components are blended and compressed to form tablets each weighing 665 mg

Formulation 3

An aerosol solution is prepared containing the following components:

Weight Active ingredient 0.25 Ethanol 25.75 Propellant 22 (Chlorodifluoromethane) 74.00 Total 100.00

The active compound is mixed with ethanol and the mixture added to a portion of the propellant 22, cooled to −30° C. and transferred to a filling device. The required amount is then fed to a stainless steel container and diluted with the remainder of the propellant. The valve units are then fitted to the container.

Formulation 4

Tablets, each containing 60 mg of Active ingredient, are made as follows:

Active ingredient 60 mg Starch 45 mg Microcrystalline cellulose 35 mg Polyvinylpyrrolidone (as 10% solution in water) 4 mg Sodium carboxymethyl starch 4.5 mg Magnesium stearate 0.5 mg Talc 1 mg Total 150 mg

The Active ingredient, starch and cellulose are passed through a No. 45 mesh U.S. sieve and mixed thoroughly. The aqueous solution containing polyvinylpyrrolidone is mixed with the resultant powder, and the mixture then is passed through a No. 14 mesh U.S. sieve. The granules so produced are dried at 50° C. and passed through a No. 18 mesh U.S. sieve. The sodium carboxymethyl starch, magnesium stearate and talc, previously passed through a No. 60 mesh U.S. sieve, are then added to the granules which, after mixing, are compressed on a tablet machine to yield tablets each weighing 150 mg.

Formulation 5

Capsules, each containing 80 mg of Active ingredient, are made as follows:

Active ingredient 80 mg Starch 59 mg Microcrystalline cellulose 59 mg Magnesium stearate 2 mg Total 200 mg

The Active ingredient, cellulose, starch, and magnesium stearate are blended, passed through a No. 45 mesh U.S. sieve, and filled into hard gelatin capsules in 200 mg quantities.

Formulation 6

Suppositories, each containing 225 mg of Active ingredient, are made as follows:

Active ingredient 225 mg Saturated fatty acid glycerides 2,000 mg Total 2,225 mg

The Active ingredient is passed through a No. 60 mesh U.S. sieve and suspended in the saturated fatty acid glycerides previously melted using the minimum heat necessary. The mixture is then poured into a suppository mold of nominal 2 g capacity and allowed to cool.

Formulation 7

Suspensions, each containing 50 mg of Active ingredient per 5 ml dose, are made as follows:

Active ingredient 50 mg Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose 50 mg Syrup 1.25 ml Benzoic acid solution 0.10 ml Flavor q.v. Color q.v. Purified water to total   5 ml

The Active ingredient is passed through a No. 45 mesh U.S. sieve and mixed with the sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and syrup-to form a smooth paste. The benzoic acid solution, flavor and color are diluted with a portion of the water and added, with stirring. Sufficient water is then added to produce the required volume.

Formulation 8

An intravenous formulation may be prepared as follows:

Active ingredient 100 mg Isotonic saline 1,000 ml The solution of the above ingredients generally is administered intravenously to a subject at a rate of 1 ml per minute.

Assay

The following chromogenic assay procedure was used to identify and evaluate inhibitors of recombinant human secreted phospholipase A₂. The assay described herein has been adapted for high volume screening using 96 well microtiter plates. A general description of this assay method is found in the article, “Analysis of Human Synovial Fluid Phospholipase A₂ on Short Chain Phosphatidylcholine-Mixed Micelles: Development of a Spectrophotometric Assay Suitable for a Microtiterplate Reader”, by Laure J. Reynolds, Lori L. Hughes, and Edward A Dennis, Analytical Biochemistry, 204, pp. 190-197, 1992 (the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference):

Reagents:

REACTION BUFFER - CaCl₂.2H₂O  (1.47 g/L) KCl (7.455 g/L) Bovine Serum Albumin (fatty acid free)    (1 g/L) (Sigma A-7030, product of Sigma Chemical Co., St. Louis MO, USA) TRIS HCl  (3.94 g/L) pH 7.5 (adjust with NaOH)

Enzyme Buffer

-   -   0.05 NaOAc.3H₂O, pH 4.5     -   0.2 NaCl     -   Adjust pH to 4.5 with acetic acid

DTNB—5,5′-dithiobis-2-nitrobenzoic Acid

Racemic Diheptanoyl Thio—PC

-   -   racemic         1,2-bis(heptanoylthio)-1,2-dideoxy-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine     -   TRITON X-100™ prepare at 6.249 mg/ml in reaction buffer to equal         10 uM.

Reaction Mixture

A measured volume of racemic dipheptanoyl thio PC supplied in chloroform at a concentration of 100 mg/ml is taken to dryness and redissolved in 10 millimolar

TRITON X-100™ nonionic detergent aqueous solution. Reaction Buffer is added to the solution, then DTNB to give the Reaction Mixture.

The reaction mixture thus obtained contains 1 mM diheptanoly thio-PC substrate, 0.29 mm Triton X-100™ detergent, and 0.12 mm DTMB in a buffered aqueous solution at pH 7.5.

Assay Procedure:

-   1. Add 0.2 ml reaction mixture to all wells; -   2. Add 10 ul test compound (or solvent blank) to appropriate wells,     mix 20 seconds; -   3. Add 50 nanograms of sPLA₂ (10 microliters) to appropriate wells; -   4. Incubate plate at 40° C. for 30 minutes; -   5. Read absorbance of wells at 405 nanometers with an automatic     plate reader.

All compounds were tested in triplicate. Typically, compounds were tested at a final concentration of 5 ug/ml. Compounds were considered active when they exhibited 40% inhibition or greater compared to uninhibited control reactions when measured at 405 nanometers. Lack of color development at 405 nanometers evidenced inhibition. Compounds initially found to be active were reassayed to confirm their activity and, if sufficiently active, IC₅₀ values were determined. Typically, the IC₅₀ values (see, Table I, below) were determined by diluting test compound serially two-fold such that the final concentration in the reaction ranged from 45 ug/mL to 0.35 ug/ml. More potent inhibitors required significantly greater dilution. In all cases, % inhibition measured at 405 nanometers generated by enzyme reactions containing inhibitors relative to the uninhibited control reactions was determined. Each sample was titrated in triplicate and result values were averaged for plotting and calculation of IC₅₀ values. IC₅₀ were determined by plotting log concentration versus inhibition values in the range from 10-90% inhibition.

Results of Human Secreted Phospholipase A₂ Inhibition Tests

TABLE Compound No. Inhibition of human secreted from PLA₂ IC50 ± mean deviation Examples 1-16 (3-6 tests) (nM) 1 (SM) 49 2Aa 18.7 +− 3   2Ab 36.3 +− 10  2Ac 108 +− 25 2Ad  20 +− 10 2Ae 63.7 +− 6.0 2Af 37.3 +− 4.0 2Ag 39.5 +− 5.0 2Ah  51.8 +− 10.0 2Ai 24.7 +− 7.0 2Aj 24.3 +− 2.0 2Ak 15.0 +− 3.0 2Al  9.0 +− 2.0 2Am  37.3 +− 13.0 2An 25.3 +− 5.0 2Ba 23.3 +− 3.0 2Bb 22.2 +− 3.0

The compound of formula 1 (starting material) is highly active in inhibiting sPLA₂ and is included in the table above, for purposes of comparison only.

While the present invention has been illustrated above by certain specific embodiments, it is not intended that these specific examples should limit the scope of the invention as described in the appended claims.

Experimental

All of the products of the Examples described below as well as intermediates used in the following procedures showed satisfactory nmr and IR spectra. They also had the correct mass spectral values.

Preparation 1

Preparation of [[3-(2-Amino-1,2-dioxoethyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]acetic acid methyl ester, a compound represented by the compound of formula (1) formula:

A) Preparation of 2-Ethyl-4-methoxy-1H-indole.

A solution of 140 mL (0.18 mol) of 1.3M sec-butyl lithium in cyclohexane was added slowly to N-tert-butoxycarbonyl-3-methoxy-2-methylaniline (21.3 g, 0.09 mol) in 250 mL of THF keeping the temperature below −40° C. with a dry ice-ethanol bath. The bath was removed and the temperature allowed to warm to 0° C. and then the bath replaced. After the temperature had cooled to −60° C., 18.5 g (0.18 mol) of N-methoxy-N-methylpropanamide in an equal volume of THF was added dropwise. The reaction mixture was stirred 5 minutes, the cooling bath removed and stirred an additional 18 hours. It was then poured into a mixture of 300 mL of ether and 400 mL of 0.5N HCl. The organic layer was separated, washed with water, brine, dried over MgSO₄, and concentrated at reduced pressure to give 25.5 g of a crude of 1-[2-(tert-butoxycarbonylamino)-6-methoxyphenyl]-2-butanone. This material was dissolved in 250 mL of methylene chloride and 50 mL of trifluoroacetic acid and stirred for a total of 17 hours. The mixture was concentrated at reduced pressure and ethyl acetate and water added to the remaining oil. The ethyl acetate was separated, washed with brine, dried (MgSO₄) and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed three times on silica eluting with 20% EtOAc/hexane to give 13.9 g of 2-ethyl-4-methoxy-1H-indole.

Analyses for C₁₁H₁₃NO: Calculated: C, 75.40; H, 7.48; N, 7.99 Found: C, 74.41; H, 7.64; N, 7.97. Preparation of 2-Ethyl-4-methoxy-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indole.

2-Ethyl-4-methoxy-1H-indole (4.2 g, 24 mmol) was dissolved in 30 mL of DMF and 960 mg (24 mmol) of 60% NaH/minerial oil was added. After 1.5 hours, 2.9 mL (24 mmol) of benzyl bromide was added. After 4 hours, the mixture was diluted with water and extracted twice with ethyl acetate. The combined ethyl acetate was washed with brine, dried (MgSO₄) and concentrated at reduced pressure. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel and eluted with 20% EtOAc/hexane to give 3.1 g (49% yield) of 2-ethyl-4-methoxy-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indole.

Preparation of 2-Ethyl-4-hydroxy-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indole.

3.1 g (11.7 mmol) of 2-ethyl-4-methoxy-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indole was O-demethylated by treating it with 48.6 mL of 1M BBr₃ in methylene chloride with stirring at room temperature for 5 hours, followed by concentration at reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate, washed with brine and dried (MgSO₄). After concentrating at reduced pressure, the residue was chromatographed on silica gel eluting with 20% EtOAc/hexane to give 1.58 g (54% yield) of 2-ethyl-4-hydroxy-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indole, mp, 86-90° C.

Analyses for C₁₇H₁₇NO: Calculated: C, 81.24; H, 6.82; N, 5.57 Found: C, 81.08; H, 6.92; N, 5.41.

Preparation of [[2-Ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]acetic Acid Methyl Ester.

2-ethyl-4-hydroxy-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indole (1.56 g, 6.2 mmol) was added to a mixture of 248 mg (6.2 mmol) of 60% NaH/mineral oil in 20 mL DMF and stirred for 0.67 hour.

Then 0.6 mL (6.2 mmol) of methyl bromoacetate was added and stirring was continued for 17 hours. The mixture was diluted with water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The ethyl acetate solution was washed with brine, dried (MgSO₄), and concentrated at reduced pressure. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel eluting with 20% EtOAc/hexane, to give 1.37 g (69% yield) of [[2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]acetic acid methyl ester, 89-92° C.

Analyses for C₂₀H₂₁NO₃: Calculated: C, 74.28; H, 6.55; N, 4.33 Found: C, 74.03; H, 6.49; N, 4.60.

Preparation of [[3-(2-Amino-1,2-dioxoethyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]acetic acid methyl ester.

Oxalyl chloride (0.4 mL, 4.2 mmol) was added to 1.36 g (4.2 mmol) of [[2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]acetic acid methyl ester in 10 mL of methylene chloride and the mixture stirred for 1.5 hours. The mixture was concentrated at reduced pressure and residue taken up in 10 mL of methylene chloride. Anhydrous ammonia was bubbled in for 0.25 hours, the mixture stirred for 1.5 hours and evaporated at reduced pressure. The residue was stirred with 20 mL of ethyl acetate and the mixture filtered. The filtrate was concentrated to give 1.37 g of a mixture of [[3-(2-amino-1,2-dioxoethyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]acetic acid methyl ester and ammonium chloride. This mixture melted at 172-187° C.

EXAMPLE 1 2-[[3-(Aminooxoacetyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]-N-(hydroxy)acetamide

To a stirred suspension of 1A (0.100 g, 0.263 mmol) anhydrous DMF (1 mL) at ambient temperature was added collidine (0.0331 mL, 0.273 mmol), O-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)hydroxylamine (0.0366 g, 0.249 mmol), and benzotriazol-1-yloxytris-(dimethylamino)phosphonium hexafluorophosphate (0.115 g, 0.261 mmol) sequentially. After 2 h the reaction mixture was diluted with xylenes (15 mL). After sitting for two hours the silyl group was removed and a light yellow precipitate formed. To the suspension was added THF (3 mL), then it was sonicated and filtered. The precipitate was taken up in THF/H₂O (5 mL/1 mL) and sonicated. To this was added Et₂O (5 mL) and it was again sonicated, then filtered and washed with cold THF to give 2Aa (60.1 mg) as a pale yellow solid in 61% yield. ¹H NMR(DMSO-d₆) δ 1.04 (t, J=7.1 Hz, 3H), 2.89 (br q, J=7.1 Hz, 2H), 3.30 (s, 2H), 4.56 (br s, 2H), 6.55 (br d, J=5.1 Hz, 1H), 6.98-7.08 (m, 4H), 7.19-7.31 (m, 3H), 7.74 (s, 1H), 8.09 (s, 1H), 8.93 (s, 1H), 10.43 (s, 1H); ESIMS m/e 396 (M⁺+1).

EXAMPLE 2 2-[[3-(Aminooxoacetyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]-N-(methyloxy)acetamide

N-Methylmorpholine (0.100 mL, 0.910 mmol) was added to a stirred suspension of 1A (0.100 g, 0.263 mmol) and methoxyamine hydrochloride (0.0242 g, 0.289 mmol) in anhydrous DMF (2 mL) at ambient temperature to form a clear solution. Powdered benzotriazol-1-yloxytris-(dimethylamino)phosphonium hexafluorophosphate (0.140 g, 0.315 mmol) was added to the solution and the mixture was stirred for 4 h. The reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuo at 37° C. to a 1 mL solution before it was subject to chromatography on silica gel (gradient 0-4% CH₃OH in CH₂Cl₂) to provide 2Ab (105 mg) as a yellow solid in 98% yield. mp 228° C. (dec.); IR(KBr) 3422, 3188, 1694, 1678, 1629 cm⁻¹; ¹H NMR(DMSO-d₆) δ 1.04 (t, J=6.8 Hz, 3H), 2.91 (q, J=6.8 Hz, 2H), 3.55 (s, 3H), 4.57 (s, 2H), 5.51 (s, 2H), 6.56-6.59 (m, 1H), 6.98-7.09 (m, 4H), 7.21-7.31 (m, 3H), 7.74 (s, 1H), 8.09 (s, 1H), 11.07 (s, 1H); ESIMS m/e 410 (M⁺+1).

Elemental Analyses for C₂₂H₂₃N₃O₅: Calculated: C, 64.54; H, 5.66; N, 10.26. Found: C, 64.22; H, 5.70; N, 10.38.

EXAMPLE 3 2-[[3-(Aminooxoacetyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]-N-(methyl)-N-(methyloxy)acetamide

Following the procedure as described in the Example 2, compound 2Ac was synthesized, as a yellow solid in 83% yield, from 1A and N,O-dimethylhydroxylamine hydrochloride. mp 168.0-170.0° C.; IR(KBr) 3442, 3225, 1701, 1662, 1630, 1601 cm⁻¹; ¹H NMR(DMSO-d₆) δ 1.04 (t, J=7.3 Hz, 3H), 2.84 (q, J=7.3 Hz, 2H), 3.11 (s, 3H), 3.73 (s, 3H), 4.85 (s, 2H), 5.48 (s, 2H), 6.44-6.47 (m, 1H), 6.98-7.04 (m, 4H), 7.21-7.31 (m, 3H), 7.35 (s, 1H), 7.69 (s, 1H); ESIMS m/e 424 (M⁺+1).

Elemental Analyses for C₂₃H₂₅N₃O₅: Calculated: C, 65.24; H, 5.95; N, 9.92. Found: C, 65.02; H, 5.77; N, 9.92.

EXAMPLE 4 2-[[3-(Aminooxoacetyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]-N-(hydroxy)-N-(methyl)acetamide

Following the procedure as described in the Example 2, compound 2Ad was synthesized, as a yellow solid in 30% yield, from IA and N-methylhydroxylamine hydrochloride. mp 217° C. (dec.); IR(KBr) 3401, 3173, 1698, 1676, 1641 cm⁻¹; ¹H NMR(DMSO-d₆) δ 1.04 (t, J=7.0 Hz, 3H), 2.86 (q, J=7.0 Hz, 2H), 3.11 (s, 3H), 4.82 (s, 2H), 5.48 (s, 2H), 6.37 (s, 1H), 6.97-7.03 (m, 4H), 7.21-7.30 (m, 3H), 7.37 (s, 1H), 7.70 (s, 1H), 10.00 (s, 1H); ESIMS m/e 410 (M⁺+1).

Elemental Analyses for C₂₂H₂₃N₃O₅: Calculated: C, 64.54; H, 5.66; N, 10.26. Found: C, 64.25; H, 5.63; N, 10.17.

EXAMPLE 5 2-[[3-(Aminooxoacetyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]-N-(ethyloxy)acetamide

Following the procedure as described in the Example 2, compound 2Ae was synthesized, as a yellow solid in 91% yield, from 2Ae and O-ethylhydroxylamine hydrochloride. mp 176.0-178.0° C.; IR(KBr) 3414, 3157, 1691, 1677, 1623 cm⁻¹; ¹H NMR(DMSO-d₆) δ 0.97-1.21 (m, 6H), 2.90 (q, J=6.8 Hz, 2H), 3.73 (q, J=7.0 Hz, 2H), 4.57 (s, 2H), 5.51 (s, 2H), 6.54-6.58 (m, 1H), 6.97-7.09 (m, 4H), 7.21-7.30 (m, 3H), 7.74 (s, 1H), 8.11 (s, 1H), 10.93 (s, 1H); ESIMS m/e 424 (M⁺+1).

Elemental Analyses for C₂₃H₂₅N₃O₅: Calculated: C, 65.24; H, 5.95; N, 9.92. Found: C, 65.03; H, 6.18; N, 9.78.

EXAMPLE 6 2-[[3-(Aminooxoacetyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]-N-(2-propenyloxy)acetamide

Following the procedure as described in the Example 2, compound 2Af was synthesized, as a yellow solid in 91% yield, from 1A and O-(allyl)hydroxylamine hydrochloride. mp 175.0-177.0° C.; IR(KBr) 3360, 1680, 1642 cm⁻¹; ¹H NMR(DMSO-d₆) δ 1.04 (t, J=7.1 Hz, 3H), 2.90 (q, J=7.1 Hz, 2H), 4.21 (d, J=5.6 Hz, 2H), 4.56 (s, 2H), 5.06-5.16 (m, 2H), 5.51 (s, 2H), 5.75-5.85 (m, 1H), 6.54-6.57 (m, 1H), 6.97-7.09 (m, 4H), 7.18-7.32 (m, 3H), 7.71 (s, 1H), 8.09 (s, 1H), 11.01 (s, 1H); ESIMS m/e 436 (M⁺+1).

Elemental Analyses for C₂₄H₂₅N₃O₅: Calculated: C, 66.19; H, 5.79; N, 9.65. Found: C, 65.98; H, 5.78; N, 9.70.

EXAMPLE 7 2-[[3-(Aminooxoacetyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]-N-(hydroxy)-N-(2-propyl)acetamide

Following the procedure as described in the Example 2, compound 2Ag was synthesized, as a white solid in 63% yield, from 1A and N-(2-propyl)hydroxylamine hydrochloride. mp 202° C. (dec.); IR(CHCl₃) 3500, 3400, 1700, 1645 cm⁻¹; ¹H NMR(DMSO-d₆) δ 0.93 (d, J=6.2 Hz, 6H), 1.03 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 3H), 2.86 (q, J=7.2 Hz, 2H), 3.12-3.17 (m, 1H), 4.80 (s, 2H), 5.49 (s, 2H), 6.50-6.53 (m, 1H), 6.97-7.08 (m, 4H), 7.21-7.34 (m, 4H), 7.70-7.75 (m, 2H); ESIMS m/e 438 (M⁺+1).

Elemental Analyses for C₂₄H₂₇N₃O₅: Calculated: C, 65.89; H, 6.22; N, 9.60. Found: C, 65.95; H, 6.20; N, 9.56.

EXAMPLE 8 2-[[3-(Aminooxoacetyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]-N-(tert-butyloxy)acetamide

Following the procedure as described in the Example 2, compound 2Ah was synthesized, as a yellow solid in 78% yield, from 1A and O-(tert-butyl)hydroxylamine hydrochloride. mp 203.0-205.0° C.; IR(KBr) 3400, 1691, 1646 cm⁻¹; ¹H NMR(DMSO-d₆) δ 0.93 (s, 9H), 1.04 (t, J=7.0 Hz, 3H), 2.89 (q, J=7.0 Hz, 2H), 4.62 (s, 2H), 5.52 (s, 2H), 6.54-6.59 (m, 1H), 6.92-6.95 (m, 2H), 7.06-7.10 (m, 2H), 7.19-7.28 (m, 3H), 7.80 (s, 1H), 8.19 (s, 1H), 10.35 (s, 1H); ESIMS m/e 452(M⁺+1).

Elemental Analyses for C₂₅H₂₉N₃O₅: Calculated: C, 66.50; H, 6.47; N, 9.31. Found: C, 66.41; H, 6.56; N, 9.62.

EXAMPLE 9 2-[[3-(Aminooxoacetyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]-N-[2-(methyl)propyloxy]acetamide

Following the procedure as described in the Example 2, compound 2Ai was synthesized, as a yellow solid in 65% yield, from 1A and O-(iso-butyl)hydroxylamine hydrochloride. ¹H NMR(DMSO-d₆) δ 0.75 (s, 3H), 0.77 (s, 3H), 1.04 (t, J=7.3 Hz, 3H), 1.68 (m, 1H), 2.87-2.93 (m, 2H), 3.45 (d, J=6.7 Hz, 2H), 4.57 (s, 2H), 5.51 (s, 2H), 6.55 (d, J=6.6 Hz, 1H), 6.98 (d, J=7.2 Hz, 2H), 7.04-7.11 (m, 2H), 7.21-7.30 (m, 3H), 7.75 (s, 1H), 8.12 (s, 1H), 10.93 (s, 1H); ESIMS m/e 452 (M⁺+1).

EXAMPLE 10 2-[[3-(Aminooxoacetyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]-N-(phenylmethyloxy)acetamide

Following the procedure as described in the Example 2, compound 2Aj was synthesized, as a yellow solid in 90% yield, from 1A and O-benzylhydroxylamine hydrochloride. mp 167.0-169.0° C.; IR(KBr) 3400, 3168, 1681, 1643 cm⁻¹; ¹H NMR(DMSO-d₆) δ 1.04 (t, J=6.8 Hz, 3H), 2.91 (q, J=6.8 Hz, 2H), 4.58 (s, 2H), 4.74 (s, 2H), 5.52 (s, 2H), 6.54-6.57 (m, 1H), 6.99-7.10 (m, 4H), 7.22-7.29 (m, 8H), 7.67 (s, 1H), 8.05 (s, 1H), 11.12 (s, 1H); ESIMS m/e 486 (M⁺+1).

Elemental Analyses for C₂₈H₂₇N₃O₅: Calculated: C, 69.26; H, 5.61; N, 8.65. Found: C, 69.12; H, 5.54; N, 8.75.

EXAMPLE 11 2-[[3-(Aminooxoacetyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]-N-(methyl)-N-(phenylmethyloxy)acetamide

Methyl iodide (0.116 mL, 218 mmol) was added to a stirred mixture of 2Aj (101 mg, 0.208 mmol) and K₂CO₃ (57.5 mg, 0.416 mmol) in anhydrous DMF (2 mL) at ambient temperature under a nitrogen atmosphere. The resultant mixture was stirred for 4 h. DMF was evaporated in vacuo and the residue was subject to chromatography on silica [gradient 0-50% EtOAc/CH₂Cl₂, then 3% CH₃OH in EtOAc/CH₂Cl₂ (1/1)] to provide 2Ak (85.0 mg) as a solid in 82% yield. mp 186.5-188.5° C.; IR(CHCl₃) 3500, 3400, 1698, 1645 cm⁻¹; ¹H NMR(CDCl₃) δ 1.19 (t, J=7.4 Hz, 3H), 2.94 (q, J=7.4 Hz, 2H), 3.27 (s, 3H), 4.78 (s, 2H), 4.89 (s, 2H), 5.34 (s, 2H), 5.40 (br s, 1H), 6.26-6.30 (m, 1H), 6.45 (br s, 1H), 6.82 (d, J=8.2 Hz, 1H), 6.96-7.04 (m, 3H), 7.25-7.38 (m, 3H), 7.40 (br s, 5H); ESIMS m/e 500 (M⁺+1).

Elemental Analyses for C₂₉H₂₉N₃O₅: Calculated: C, 69.72; H, 5.85; N, 8.41. Found: C, 69.80; H, 5.98; N, 8.32.

EXAMPLE 12 2-[[3-(Aminooxoacetyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]-N-(phenyloxy)acetamide

Following the procedure as described in the Example 2, compound 2Al was synthesized, as a yellow solid in 80% yield, from 1A and O-phenylhydroxylamine hydrochloride. mp 205° C. (dec.); IR(KBr) 3500, 3400, 1690, 1675, 1645 cm⁻¹; ¹H NMR(DMSO-d₆) δ 1.03 (t, J=7.1 Hz, 3H), 2.91 (br q, J=7.1 Hz, 2H), 4.80 (s, 2H), 5.53 (s, 2H), 6.69-7.02 (m, 6H), 7.12-7.30 (m, 7H), 7.85 (s, 1H), 8.20 (s, 1H), 11.75 (s, 1H); ESIMS m/e 472 (M⁺+1).

Elemental Analyses for C₂₇H₂₅N₃O₅: Calculated: C, 68.78; H, 5.34; N, 8.91. Found: C, 68.97; H, 5.29; N, 9.02.

EXAMPLE 13 2-[[3-(Aminooxoacetyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]-N-(methyl)-N-(phenyloxy)acetamide

Following the procedure as described in the Example 11, compound 2Am was synthesized, as a yellow solid in 76% yield, from 2Al. mp 146.0-147.5° C.; ¹H NMR(CDCl₃) δ 1.19 (t, J=7.4 Hz, 3H), 2.93 (q, J=7.4 Hz, 2H), 3.34 (s, 3H), 4.92 (s, 2H), 5.34 (s, 2H), 5.50 (br s, 1H), 6.51 (d, J=7.9 Hz, 1H), 6.55 (br s, 1H), 6.83 (d, J=8.1 Hz, 1H), 7.00-7.18 (m, 6H), 7.24-7.40 (m, 5H); ESIMS m/e 486 (M⁺+1)

EXAMPLE 14 2-[[3-(Aminooxoacetyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]-N-(cyclohexyl)-N-(hydroxy)acetamide

Following the procedure as described in the Example 2, compound 2An was synthesized, as a yellow solid in 74% yield, from 1A and N-cyclohexylhydroxylamine hydrochloride. mp 210° C. (dec.); IR(CHCl₃) 3500, 3400, 1700, 1644 cm⁻¹; ¹H NMR(DMSO-d₆) δ 0.97-1.20 (m, 4H), 1.06 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 3H), 1.50-1.71 (m, 6H), 2.80-2.91 (m, 3H), 4.81 (s, 2H), 5.51 (s, 2H), 6.53 (d, J=7.7 Hz, 1H), 7.00-7.10 (m, 4H), 7.21-7.32 (m, 3H), 7.35 (s, 1H), 7.72 (s, 1H), 7.78 (d, J=5.5 Hz, 1H); ESIMS m/e 478 (M⁺+1).

Elemental Analyses for C₂₇H₃₁N₃O₅: Calculated: C, 67.91; H, 6.54; N, 8.80. Found: C, 67.72; H, 6.63; N, 8.95.

EXAMPLE 15 2-[[3-(2-Amino-2-oxoethyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylnmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]-N-(hydroxy)acetamide

Following the experimental procedure as described in Example 1, 2Ba was obtained as a white solid in 64% yield. mp 187-189° C.; ¹H NMR(DMSO-d₆) δ 10.98 (s, 1H), 8.96 (s, 1H), 7.34 (s, 1H), 7.20 (m, 3H), 6.91 (m, 5H), 6.41 (s, 1H), 5.34 (s, 2H), 4.55 (s, 2H), 3.62 (s, 2H), 2.73 (m, 2H), 0.99 (t, J=7.0 Hz, 3H); ESIMS m/e 382 (M⁺+1).

Elemental Analyses for C₂₁H₂₃N₃O₄.0.25(H₂O): Calculated: C, 65.36; H, 6.14; N, 10.89. Found: C, 65.37; H, 6.27; N, 10.90.

EXAMPLE 16 2-[[3-(Aminooxoacetyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]-N-(hydroxy)-N-(phenylmethyl)acetamide

Following the procedure as described in Example 2, compound 2Bb was synthesized from 1A and N-phenylhydroxylamine hydrochloride. 

1. An indole compound represented by the formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, or prodrug thereof;

wherein R₁ is (c) wherein; (c) is the group -(L₁)-R₁₁; where, -(L1)- is an alkylene chain of 1 to 8 carbon atoms and where R₁₁ is —(CH₂)_(m)—R₁₂; wherein m is an integer from 1 to 6; and R₁₂ is the group represented by the formula:

where n is an integer from 0 to 2 and p is an integer from 0 to 5; and R₁₃ is selected from C₁ to C₈ alkyl: R₂ is hydrogen, or C1-C4 alkyl; R₃ is -(L₃)-Z, where -(L₃)- is a bond and Z is a group represented by the formulae,

wherein, X is oxygen; and R_(a) is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, aryl, C₁-C₈ alkaryl, C₁-C₈ alkoxy, aralkyl and —CN; R₄ is the group, -(L_(h))-(hydroxyfunctional amide); wherein -(L_(h))-, is represented by the formula

O₂ is O; R⁴⁰ is independently selected from hydrogen and C₁-C₈ alkyl; (Hydroxyfunctional amide) is the group

wherein R^(4a) is OH; R^(4b) is selected from the group consisting of H and C₁-C₈ alkyl; R⁵ is hydrogen; and R⁶ and R⁷ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, and C₂-C₆ alkynyl.
 2. The compound of claim 1 wherein the hydroxyfunctional amide linker group, -(Lh)-, for R₄ is a divalent group selected from,


3. The compound of claim 1 wherein R₄ is the group, (L_(h))-(hydroxyfunctional amide group) and wherein the (hydroxyfunctional amide group) is:

and R^(4a) is independently selected from the group consisting of OH; and wherein R^(4b) is (C₁-C6)alkyl.
 4. A compound selected from the group of: 2-[[3-(Aminooxoacetyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]-N-(hydroxy)acetamide; 2-[[3-(Aminooxoacetyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]-N-(methyloxy)acetamide; 2-[[3-(Aminooxoacetyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]-N-(methyl)-N-(methyloxy)acetamide; 2-[[3-(Aminooxoacetyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]-N-(hydroxy)-N-(methyl)acetamide; 2-[[3-(Aminooxoacetyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]-N-(ethyloxy)acetamide; 2-[[3-(Aminooxoacetyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]-N-(2-propenyloxy)acetamide; 2-[[3-(Aminooxoacetyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]-N-(hydroxy)-N-(2-propyl)acetamide; 2-[[3-(Aminooxoacetyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]-N-(tert-butyloxy)acetamide; 2-[[3-(Aminooxoacetyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]-N-[2-(methyl)propyloxy]acetamide; 2-[[3-(Aminooxoacetyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]-N-(phenylmethyloxy)acetamide; 2-[[3-(Aminooxoacetyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]-N-(methyl)-N-(phenylmethyloxy)acetamide; 2-[[3-(Aminooxoacetyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]-N-(phenyloxy)acetamide; 2-[[3-(Aminooxoacetyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]-N-(methyl)-N-(phenyloxy)acetamide; 2-[[3-(Aminooxoacetyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]-N-(cyclohexyl)-N-(hydroxy)acetamide; and 2-[[3-(2-Amino-2-oxoethyl)-2-ethyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl]oxy]-N-(hydroxy)acetamide.
 5. A pharmaceutical formulation comprising a indole compound as claimed in claim 1 together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent therefor.
 6. A pharmaceutical formulation containing an effective amount of the compound of claim 1 useful for the treatment and/or amelioration of Inflammatory Diseases. 